Variable lamination manufacturing (VLM) process and apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a variable lamination manufacturing process and apparatus. The method comprises the step of coating strip-shaped material with an adhesive while the strip-shaped material is fed. Thereafter, the strip-shaped material being fed is cut into material pieces of a variable width, variable inclinations and a variable length in accordance with the three-dimensional computer aided design data of a three-dimensional product using a linear heat source. The cut material pieces are stacked on a moving table to be positioned in the corresponding positions of the three-dimensional product. Finally, the stacked cut material pieces are pushed to bond one piece to anther.